Distances

The exhibition "Distances" at Polkagalerie in Paris presents the work of Mikael Siirilä, a Finnish artist born in 1978. Siirilä works exclusively with analog photography, developing his prints in a darkroom where he manipulates light and paper. His process involves a deliberate slowness, focusing on craftsmanship and a tactile approach to image-making. The resulting photographs often feature warm, creamy, or golden tones achieved through tea baths, giving them a delicate appearance. These works are frequently small in scale, encouraging close examination.

Siirilä's images explore fragmented subjects and capture moments on the edge of visibility, acting as fragments of memory. For "Distances," he creates diptychs where the details of paired images subtly resonate, opening up narrative possibilities. These juxtapositions, such as a shoulder detail with a half-open door, invite viewers to construct their own stories and bridge the perceived distance between the images. The exhibition highlights Siirilä's interest in the quiet observation of the world, contrasting with the rapid consumption of images in contemporary culture.